where she may have been placed on a waiting list for treatment. Some patients wait for days, other for weeks and yes even months. If her condition was truly serious, she may have come off the list only with her death. It happens with increasing frequency.

When my mother, a Canadian, went into the hospital, as she did often toward the end of her life, my worst fear was that she'd need a high-demand treatment and would wind up on a long waiting list. Mercifully, we never faced that.

Socialized medicine has its own downfalls. Personally I'd rather be presented with a bill than a death certificate.

I think the point being made about having proper insurance while travelling is very important.